Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-22

ATIWACIhONS OE ALASAAs
Pref. Chickertng Dtspels some False
Motions About the Territory.
CLIMATE or sITKA-vAsr ExrESr OF THE TERRI-
ToRY-DoEs THE MAMMOTH STILL LIvH.--A LBc.
TURF BEFORE The AMATEUR BOTANICAL cLua
To the audience gathered In the lecture-room of
the National Museum "Wednesday night the worus
OF Prot J. W. Chickering. OF Kendall Green. were
In the way OF a revelation HIS subject was tho
nora OF Alaska and scientifically formidable enough
TO suit the tastes OF the members OF Bo
tanica Club, under whose auspices the lecture was
given, but IL proved an agreeable surprise TO the
many unscientinc persons present that there was
more about Alaska, Its features It's resources and
It's general characteristics than about lot OF
plants with their identity concealed beneath
Latin nomenclature
Prof. Chickering said that potwithsf anding
Alaska has been IN our possession q large number
OF years, yet the ignorance that exists among Va
concerning this portion OF our country is astonish
Ing. Many once thought and many do still think
that the only crops That Alaska raises are ice-
oergs and polar bears IL was and is common
for large portion OF Alaska this 10 pras caiy true
there are some parts which would form by No
means an undesirable location for home.
THR EXTENT or THE TERRIroRY.
The country contains over half million square
United States, about equal TO six New Englands
or 70 all OF the States east OF the Mississippi ana
north OF Georgia IL extends I, 30 miles north
and south and 100 miles east and west. BY this
western proonGatiou OF the North American con-
unent San Frenclsco Is placed about half way
Great was the cry q extrayagance when this
acre for this bleak, barren, and almost unpopu-
lated country, as Il was then called. But facts
taxes the fisheries alone have thus far paid into
the elsury OF the country over g. 600 600 or an
annual interest OF over ~ per cent On the original
There are three natural geographical sections
Into which Alaska Is divided: the continental che
Islands and Southeastern Alaska. The nrst is a
region OF which the popular Alaskan opinion Is
true. In winter dreary waste OF drifting snow,
with the temperature down sometimes TO nifty de-
gress below zero, and In summer q vast expanss Of
marshy soil, alternately freezing and Ihawing
WITH immense PUSHES waving like fringe over all
Even here the nora Is abundant there beng ovei
forty varieties OF flowers. The great dra BACK 70
spending the summer here Is the vast quantity OF
Large and
BLooDTHIRsTY MOSQUITOES
that make life burden, and at times almost TN
possible Even the dogs are often killed by their
attacks, and men have to wrap their heads In
cloths and encase their hands in thick gloves for
protection from these pests. Indians here have
come dowh TO the settlements at various times and
described meetings with animals that most closely
resemble, n they are not identical with the sup
posedly extinct mammoth. As IL Is not possible
that these people have seen drawings OF this AMI
NAL, and they are absolutely Isolated from any
scentlrc Information concerning Il, these stories
give rise 20 a reasonable belief that there at
present live specimens OF the mammoth wandering
over the northwestern tce-felds OF this continent
The main value OF the peninsuar region lies Ia the
extensive fisheries and fur-bearing animals that
byiov 9 cups o. islands The nora or this region
corresponds largely to that TO be found on the
mountain tops In New England, and such as the
cranberry are abundenL This portion OF Alaska
Is but seldom visited and Is not destined To become
a pleasure resort.
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA
is land OF waterfalls, glaciers, snow-clad noun
tains and charming scenery, and has a future such
as even the original purchasers never dreamed OF
Beside the mainland is an archipelago OF over
II, 200 islands. The trip I. ON the United states
proper TO this country is delightful one, and. al
though the travellers are forced TO go over 5000
miles by sea, yet the route is such that at only
three places Is the steamer exposed to the swell OF
the Pacific, distance OF less than 30 miles In all
From the steamer waterfalls by the scores and
hundreds are TO be seen, from loo 10 1000 feet In
height AT one point there were ffteen IN view at
once There 70 an equal abundance OF glaciers, and
surrunded by these immense Ice rivers can see the
process OF the creation Of the soil going before
printed before our eyes" Around and at the foot s
OF the glacier there are over thirty species Of
1owertng plants.
the CLIMATE or sfTKA.
II is another OF the mistaken ideas about Alaska
that It Is about the climatic equivalent OF the
corresponding shores on the eastern coast OF the
continent on the contrary. sitka has nora
strongly remind Nc one OF tropical scenes In Its
wealth and profusl0n. The cause OF this is 10 be
found in the current Of water known as the JaPa-
stream pours north from the hot waters OF the
semi-tropics, and battles the country In perpetual
warmth and moisture. Al sitka the mercury
winter b-fore last, OF degrees below, astonished
the natives The average temperatures are
This winter average is computed from the aver e
ages OF the last twenty-five Years. In fact, South
eastern Alaska has the winter OF Kentucky and
rainfall is double OF that here-the number OF fair
days at Sitka during the year being from 100 TO
$50. IL rains on the slightest prosocation, and
the waterproof is the national embem-even the
harbor steamers and tugs are covered with great
black cloaks that AFFORD protection TO their pas
sengers and the crew from the ever-threatening
ratn-pour.
Alaska has future In god mining that viii at
some time cause It TO be one OF the most popular
parts OF the country There is vein OF gold bear
ing quartz running through this region that sup
ports the largest stamp mill In the world. Our
the result Of a fortnights work. The vegetation
is SO dense that the prospectors are bindered In
their work OF seeking new claims; even the In-
dian hunters do not dare TO penetrate the forests
In search OF game, but follow the shores In their
canoes One tree, fallen across q stream, meas
ures feet In diameter, and Its PROSTATE trunk
is covered with q forest OF ferns and nchens that
In this humid climate spring up everywhere
But with all OF this dampness there is no mold
to be seen, in fact tine fog and rain seem almost
to be dry log and dry rain. Clothing, though
soaked dries In q remarkable short time, and
washing, AFTER being wrung, hung out under an
open shed, viii dry In a few hours, with the out
side air fied with pouring rain. Roses abound
and the brakes grow 70 an immense height.
RESERVE SUPPLY OF rnBER
There are 5, 100000, 900 feet OF timber waiting
here TO be cut, at the lowest calculation q grand
reserve supply TO be drawn upon when our forests
shall have failed. But by the stringent laws enacted
by Congress not q stick OF timber can be cut, nor
can man acquire title 70 q fool OF land, except
for the purposes OF stalking out mining claims
Pines grow to height OF 80 feet, with a diameter
OF or 10 feet, cedars are 70 be found; from which
canoes 90 feet long and 10 70 Is feet In width
hewn. The yellow cedar, abundant there, u the
only wood that will resist the attacks OF the
water brOers that make wharves an imp0esibility.
Alter the lecturer had finished the lights were
turned down, and on large screen were thrown
q numDer OF beautiful views OF Alaskan scenery
and lie, by means OF sCeri0pticOn lantern There
were waterfalls and icebergs falling from the
faces OF the giacierA and groups OF Indians, and
totem posts and Alaskan graves. and . number
OF beautiful and interesting scenes that made the
audience reel that Alaska Il the only place 20
visit on summer tour.
he MeFctf1l % Year Aorse.